Clothesline clamp



Nov. 6, 1928. 1,690,815

H. F. BRAKE I CLOTHESLINE CLAMP Filed Sept. 24, 1926 k In-" WITNESSES y clothes line.

Pata-.fed Nov. e, 1928,.l

A, ineens 1 HARRYE. BRAKE, oF MILWAUKEE,v vvscorretti'.l

Y Y CLOTHESLINE CLAMP.

" Application ined september 24, 192e. serial No. 137,490.

The invention relateslto clot-hes line clamps. An object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive clothes-line clamp adapted for mounting on a pole, wall or other support and capable of securing a clothes line at anydesired degree of tension.

Another obj ect of the invention is to provide a clothes line clamp of this character including a movable clampingmemberwhich can bc manipulated by the clothes line into either clamping or releasing posit-ion.

The invention-further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly delined by the annexedclai'ms.

In-the accompanying drawings,.Fig, 1 is a side elevation 'of aclothesvline clamp embodying the invention, showing the manner of securing a clothes line thereon;

2 isav front elevation of the clothes line clamp; n

Fig. 3 is a plan View thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1 but showing a different manner lof securing the In these drawings, 10 designates a'bracliet having a base flange 11 provided with apertures 12 for the reception of the screws 13, by which the bracket can be secured to a pole, wall or other support 14. The bracket 10 projects outwardly from the-support and is provided at its outer end with a laterally projecting flange 15, which is preferably inclined forwardly and downwardly and which forms a line clamping j aw. 4The flange 15 is provided at its upper and lower edges with notches 16- and 17, respectively, adapted to receive a clothes line l18. f

A clampingl dog 19 is pivotally mounted on the bracket 10 by a bolt 20 passing through thebracket near the base flange 11. The-dog,l 19 projects forwardly from its pivotalmounting and has a laterally projecting flange or jaw 21 at its forward portion spaceda short distance from the laterally projecting flange 15 from the bracket 10 and provided with transverse grooves 22 to form a'corrugated line clamping surface. The pivoted dog 19 is capable of falling downwardly-a short distance away from the clamping position shown in Fig. 1 and, in such lowermost position it is limited by the abutment of its rear edge 93V with the base flange 11 of the bracket.

The clothes line 18 which is supported at a ldistant point is first introduced into the upper notchv 16 from which the line is suspended behind the flange 15. Theline may be placed 15V is pulled-downwardly, thus releasingthe inthis position by tossing it single-handedly into the notch. The line is vthen given the desired tension by pulling Idownwardly lon the depending portiomwhich latter is thereupon deflected rearwardljg "as indicated in dotted lines, to the'lower edge ofthe clampingl face of the dog 19, the dog beingr at this time in its lowermost position. -Vheix the clothes line-is eased while still holding it` inthe dotted line position of Fig. 1, the line moves upwardlywhich carries the dogr upwardly and causes the latter to wedge the line tightly between it and the forward flange 15 of the bracket 10, seen in F ig.' 1. As additional load is placed on the span of line 18 the clamping engagement will fbe tightened. TWhen it is'desired to release 'the line, the depending portion of the yline behind the kflange dog1 19 which falls to its lowermost position. The line 18 may then be readily removed from the bracket by tossing' it single-handedly in an'upward and lateral direction. In caseincreased tension is to be placed on the line without removing it from the bracket, the depending portion the line isvlirst pulled to produce the desired tension and is then deflected re,ai".vaiclly to engage the dog, which will be lifted to clamping position as the line isy released from the hand. j

The inclination of the-'forward flange 15 of the bracket serves to render more convenient the deflectionof the line to dog-actuating` position, as the required` rearwarddeflection of the depending portion of the line is thus reduced. K The pivotal member 2O for the dog 1971s so placed vwith respect to the inc clinedflange 15 that the pathv of movement passed about the clamping flange 21 to engage its rear face and the two spans pass outwardly y through the notch 16. In the case of a single f line terminating atthe bracket the line may Abe wrapped about the dog as suggested in Fig.

4 with theend portionhanging in front of the flange 15,130 prevent accidental dislodgment of the line: or, if desired, the lower notch 17 may be used to receive the end'portion of the line Which may be Wound several times about Vthe flange lin'cl'ockvvise direction. The two to retain the doo in line-clam inv enrfasie- L a 23 i.

ment, the lower span of line holding' the dog' elevated in the saine manner indicated' in Fig. l, While the subsequently strung` upper span performs the saine function by upward pull on the big'ht of line surroundiiig` mvv! thelend'llange of the dog'. Y

i It vill be seentliat bymeans of the device of thisy invention, a clothes line may be secure` ly clamped in a simple manner by single! handed" manipulation and-that the tension on the nline can be readily adjusted to suit condi from; 1 i Y llVhat I claim as new andV desire tosecure by Letters' Patent is:

1l. Aline clamp,comprising a bracket having* a basefiange adapted to be; secured to 4supportand having a laterally proj ecting forward poitinforming a line-clampingl sur farei-lat its `rear face, and a dog,` pivotally niountebl on said bracket adgacent` said base flangcand having aforward clamping' face coioperating `With said laterally projecting portion vrto clamp a line therebetween on the upward movement of saidldog, said dog havd base flang limiting' its doiviiwardmove 'rent and permitting said line to lift said dogv into clamping position. v

:2i A line clamp comprising' a bracket adapt-Y ed to be secured to asuppoi't and having a line-"receivino' surface.Y clam i'ng; member C f 7 i 1 e1 pivotaliy'mounted onrsaid oraciret and hav ing aelaniping portion upwardly movable from a free gravityjdeterinined positionto a clamping position adjacent saidl'i'nei'ecei`v` ing surface, anda line including a 'span havingits depending end portion interiliosed be tiveen said line-receiving surface and clampingportion of said clamping member, the' de Ypendiii'gportion of said line being` engage-A able ivith saidclamping member for permitting` line tension'to'lift said member intoV clamping; position aiid said clamping member beingi'eleas'able to said free position by a doivnfivard pull onsaid depending portion of theline.""' Y` Erfline clamp comprising a bracket having aline-receiving"jaw, and a pivotally mounted dog having a Clamping aiv CO-opeiating* Withy said bracket jayv for clampn ing' ai lline betvveen said javv's said dog being movable upwardly into line-clampingI position and v'downivardly toa free position and beingmovable `to either of said positions by engagement and movement of the line with said dog.

i11- Tllie'coinbination of a bracket having a l line-receiving jaw,` a pivotally mounted dog lie'iiie 'o ici 'erec in Li( s a'ce forli tl til nsti sal i f 'for Anir-millier pivotally mounted onsaidfbij'ael; i;

downwardly" into saidN linesreceiving space and engageable with the clamping jaw of saidl dog While Ain tensioned position for lifting said dog'into clamping position upon the lim :31Min "f AF.'

itedi release bf said tension, and said end portion o f the span of-line beingpassed upward ly to foi-m a bight `the yelampifng jaw of said dog eaten,fdiiig from above saidjalw toform ase/eoiijcflspzin of line.

'5, line elanjip, 'oompiising a bracket adapt' "l, to bleselc'ur'ed te suppiiiftf and havingL a liner'eceiving jaw; al'clampingniem YeA pf'f o'tally mounted onsaidb` oket 'lateija saidfbrac'ket javv 'and' having a clan cofoperatingj'wvith saiblfbracket javi. clamp a liiie betiveerisaid javvs'oii tl'i'elup'i movement said 'niembcfiy and is' for liinitingthe downward An'iove'fme'nt 85 said" clamping member" away from' said braeketjaiv to form a line-receiving'space somewiiat Wider than salidfline andpermittiug,

said' clamping member to itsl lineL-Qllliipin position. y o. ik line clamp, comprising a bracket adapted to be seeuiedlto asupport and lia'vl ig a line-clamping javiA and anupvvardly ope Y ing line-receivingrecess aboves'aidjaiv, anda e5 clamping member pi'votally mounted on'fsaid bracket andA having` a Clampingl jayv adapted to co-operate with saidl bracket jaiv for clampingI a line betiveen saidf'javvs, said rc cess being` adapted'to receive the end of a` 100 l onedspan of line. Whichfdepends "from behindl Asaid recess between said?` clamping jaws', and saidclam'ping member beingfmovable Yupfivardly to line-"clamping positionandl doivinvardly to a free position and being,l mov? i able toeitlier of said positions by engagenlient and movement of the linefvviitli Ysaid clamping menubar.' i

7. A YAline clamp, comprisingt'al bracketi adaptedto ,securedto asupport)andliav- NU ing a luie-*receiving jaw' andf'a clanippingy andhaving aelamping jaiv'adjacent said bracket jaw to receive between them "fromf above" a tensioned span linee said clamping 115( member being normally urged out of Co-ope ative relationvwith said bracket jaiv'in the sencer of aline butbeinvg movable toward saidI bracket jaw undervtlie in ifuence of `linentension for clamping` a line Vtherebetiveenand 1911 inoreleasi'ible'to free position by movement; of the portion of saidllir'iley depending from said jaws ina'directionoppositeto the;clamp-` p ing movementyof said clamping l in eiribers ln testimony whereof I :aflix my sig iature.

w BRAKE( 

